A meeting of the Executive Committee of the United
States Sailing Association was held by telephone conference at 8:00 p.m.
(Eastern Time) on Tuesday, September 12, 2000. President Muldoon
presided, and Secretary Everingham recorded the minutes.
1. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS. All members of the
Executive Committee were present except Ms. Baxter, Dr. Eissner and Mr.
Haenel. Executive Director Terry Harper was on a business trip to
California and joined the meeting in progress.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. The minutes of the August 14, 2000
meeting of the Executive Committee were approved.
3. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS. Mr. Muldoon reported briefly on his
meeting with the NGB collaborative group.
4. TREASURER'S REPORT. Treasurer Lane discussed the summary
financial statement (revenue and expenses) for the ten-month period
ended August 31, 2000, which was distributed to the Executive Committee
before the meeting. He predicted that we will do better than the recast
budget on expenses for the year but revenues for the year (particularly
membership, sponsorship, offshore and training) will be significantly
less than the recast budget, so that the increase (decrease) in
operating assets for the fiscal year will be about $50,000 worse than
the recast budget.
5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT. The Executive Director's report
was distributed before the meeting.
5a. Membership Report - Mr. Harper reviewed the statistical
information distributed to the Executive Committee before the meeting
and discussed in his report. Significant progress has been made in the
membership area in recent weeks to implement recommendations discussed
Mr. Rosekrans' August 13 report, which was discussed at the August 14
Executive Committee meeting. However, organizational memberships
continue to lag behind expectations. The low organizational memberships
and expiration of President's Club memberships account for virtually all
of the current membership deficit.
5b. Sailing World - The Executive Committee approved the
currently proposed contract with Sailing World. The contract is for a
three-year term with a 12-month cancellation provision.
5c. Rolex Contract - The Executive Committee approved the
proposed new contract with Rolex, which was distributed to the Executive
Committee before the meeting, with the understanding that US SAILING
re-quest permission to use Rolex trademarks in US SAILING advertising
and promotional materials (i.e., rights reciprocal to those conferred on
Rolex by section 2c of the contract).
5d. Ficker Cup and Butler Cup - The Executive Committee voted to
endorse the ISAF Event Grading Appli-cation for the 2000 Ficker Cup
(upgrading from Grade 4 to Grade 3) provided the applicant reduces the
percent of skippers from the host MNA to 70%. Messrs. Muldoon and Cook
abstained.
The Executive Committee voted to endorse the initial ISAF Event Grading
Application for the 2001 Butler Cup Match Race Series (Grade 4) provided
the applicant requires a minimum of eight skippers. Messrs. Muldoon and
Cook abstained.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6a. 2001 Budget - The Executive Committee discussed the draft
budget that was considered at the August 14th Executive Committee
meeting as well as the information requested during that meeting and
subsequently provided by the staff. A special Executive Committee
meeting on September 19 will be devoted exclusively to the budget.
6b. Report from US SAILING Appeals Committee - Mr. Cook reviewed
the views of the Appeals Committee on matters concerning penalties
imposed under RRS 69 and the interplay between Article 14 of the Bylaws
and the racing rules of sailing. (The Appeals Committee's views were
requested by the Executive Committee on June 19; its response was
received on August 16 and distributed to the Executive Committee on
August 17.)
After a discussion, the Executive Committee approved a motion to direct
the Racing Rules Committee to draft a proposed prescription to the
racing rules of sailing to require that appeals of protest committee
decisions relating to RRS 69.1 be made to the Article 14 Review Board
and to do so by December 31, 2000.
6c. SAILING SMART Business Plan - Mr. Jepsen presented the
Business Plan (September 8, 2000) for SAILING SMART that was distributed
to the Executive Committee before the meeting. Further consideration was
deferred until certain forecasted revenues and expenses can be refined.
7. NEW BUSINESS
7a. AWIA Board Nomination - Action deferred.
7b. Changes to 403b Plan - Action deferred.
7c. Submissions to ISAF by Member National Authorities ("MNAs")
- Mr. Cook reported that the MNAs have made some 170 submissions and
described some of the more significant submissions. The ISAF Delegation
will seek guidance on several issues at the Annual General Meeting in
New Orleans.
Eight people (including Ding Schoonmaker) were nominated for seven vice
presidential slots.
7d. Women's Open - Discussion deferred until New Orleans.
8. ARTICLE 14 AND RRS 69 MATTERS - The Executive Committee and
the Executive Director continued in executive session respecting Article
14 and RRS 69 matters. Mr. Everingham was excused and left the meeting
before 00-14-05 and 99-14-02 were discussed, and Mr. Harper kept the
minutes of the executive session after he left.
8a. Andrew Blom Appeal - The current draft decision approved. Mr.
Lane abstained.
8b. 00-69-07 - The Executive Director will advise the parties
that this matter has been referred to the Article 14 Review Board.
8c. 00-14-05. The decision of the Article 14 Review Board is
being put in final form and will by mailed to the parties by the
Executive Director.
8d. 99-14-02. A possible resolutio9n of this matter was
discussed. The Executive Director is to draft a re-sponse and forward it
to Messrs. Muldoon, Lane and Schoettle for review and revision.
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). The next meeting
will be held at 7:00 p.m. (Central Time) on Wednesday, October 11, 2000
at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans.
_______________________________________
J. Theodore Everingham, Secretary